Sarlat, France

Sarlat is a pretty city, with very well maintained buildings and lovely facades. Unfortunately, it's a bit touristy for my taste. Lots of tourist shops, lots of people, you get the picture. It's too bad, as the city itself has a lot of history. My tip is to look on the map: it’s split pretty evenly into a north half and a south half, with a main street down the middle where the big market is held. The south half is filled with the tourist sites, so you’ll spend a lot of time there, but the northern half is almost all residential. It’s a great way to peak into the lifestyles of this part of the region and get away from the crowds. The outskirts of the city are also lovely. They have a whole other feel to them and are necessary to having a true sense of the area.

Photo: A picturesque street in Sarlat